Pregnant woman, probably the most beautiful that nature has created. However, a pregnant woman is the most restless creature. And this, of course, is completely normal - because the expectant mother carries the burden of dual responsibility - responsibility for the life and health of not only herself but also her baby.

Women try to get as many different information, one way or another related to the characteristics of pregnancy, child development, possible complications. And the closer approaching the coveted "X hour", the greater the alarm appears in the expectant mother. In our time, is easy to find a variety of information about pregnancy and childbirth.

However, not always the pregnant woman gets the answers to all your questions. In particular, it concerns the amniotic fluid. Find it - any sensible about amniotic fluid on the Internet is very difficult, and only a limited knowledge of women in that discharge of amniotic fluid indicates the onset of labor, and the leakage of amniotic fluid symptoms is very vague.

In fact, the amniotic fluid play a huge role in the development of the crumbs can really tell a lot about how the pregnancy proceeds, and what to expect during labor. Of course, all of this information own doctors - obstetricians. However, they often do not devote a pregnant woman into all the details, preferring to quietly do their job. But nothing scares more than ignorance.

The amount of amniotic fluid

Constantly being heated debate, what must be the amount of amniotic fluid. However, the views of physicians agree to the following figures. At the tenth week of pregnancy, the average amount of amniotic fluid (amniocentesis) is approximately 35 milliliters. By the fourteenth week of pregnancy and triples the figure is already about 100 milliliters. And in the twentieth week of pregnancy, amniotic fluid volume reached 400 milliliters.

The largest volume of amniotic fluid is usually at 38 weeks of pregnancy - about one and a half liters. But then, just before birth, its volume may drop significantly, decreasing to 800 - 1000 ml. This factor is one of the most unpleasant during pregnancy perenashivanie - amniotic fluid.

Appointment of amniotic fluid

Too many women mistakenly believe that amniotic fluid - is ordinary water, which is and remains. However, this is not true. Indeed, approximately 98% of amniotic fluid consists of an ordinary distilled water. However, the amniotic fluid is a biologically active medium crumbs. The amniotic fluid contains a large number of active substances, lipids, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, etc.

On the small stage of pregnancy the amniotic fluid and the colors are not quite clear. However, as the composition of the amniotic fluid of pregnancy it is highly variable. The amniotic fluid fall potoo - fat excretion, moribund upper layer of the epidermis (skin), vellus hairs crumbs. Because of this, amniotic fluid turbid.

In addition to the color of the amniotic fluid of the baby grows and changes its chemical composition. The only thing that remains the same - it is the pH level. He always correspond to the level of blood pH baby. It allows correct pregnancy was correct, and the baby to develop normally.

Sami also amniotic fluid throughout pregnancy are updated regularly, as in the body of a pregnant woman for a single moment does not stop the so-called circular metabolism, affecting not only the mother but also the baby. It is through this circular exchange carried fetal nutrition - nutrients from the mother enter the body crumbs with the participation of the placenta from the body of the fetus and waste products are displayed is carried out transport of oxygen to the cells of the child. And this process of metabolism circular provides regular updates of the amniotic fluid.

Amazing speed this process. In that case, if the pregnancy proceeds safely, and the expectant mother does not suffer what - or chronic diseases and feels good, circular metabolism speed reaches about half a liter of amniotic fluid per hour. It is easy to calculate that the volume of amniotic fluid at 38 weeks of pregnancy, when the number is equal to one and a half liter of water, complete replacement of going about three hours. There is an exchange process with the direct participation of both the placenta and fetal membranes.

In addition, the child is also taking a direct part in the renewal of amniotic fluid. In the first half of pregnancy amniotic fluid easily enters the body of the fetus, and only about 23 weeks of gestation to the skin of the child reaches this stage of formation, in which the skin is impermeable to the amniotic fluid and any other. At this stage the skin metabolism in the fetal end.

However, in the early 24 weeks of pregnancy crumb starts regularly swallow the amniotic fluid. He does it with a very specific purpose - the ingestion of amniotic fluid allows you to train like the digestive and excretory system of the fetus. During the day, baby, so processes up to one and a half liters of fluid. In addition, the amniotic fluid ingested by the baby another way - at the time of the crumbs of the respiratory movements. Thus, the baby passes through the lungs about 800 milliliters of amniotic fluid for only one day.

Amniotic fluid - what are they for?

Very often women are asked about what is needed amniotic fluid? Whether so it is necessary for the development of the baby? The answer is simple - yes. Amniotic fluid perform many very different functions - and security, and developing and rodovcpomogatelnye. Below we describe in more detail each of them:

Thermostatic function

The amniotic fluid from the early days in the uterus creates an ideal temperature for the development of the fetus - 27 degrees Celsius. And any external factors - hypothermia pregnant woman or a slight increase in temperature as a result of - or the disease will not affect the baby, because the temperature inside the membranes governs it amniotic fluid. Of course, the amniotic waters not under force to restrain the radical changes in temperature, but in general they successfully cope with the problem - control the temperature.

Immune protection

As mentioned earlier, in the amniotic fluid contains a large number of various biologically active substances. Including among these substances are many varieties and immunoglobulins. It is these immunoglobulins reliably protect the fetus from possible destruction of various pathogens. But pathogenic bacteria that can harm the health of the crumbs, and even endanger his life, a lot even in the body completely healthy woman. The amniotic fluid of pregnant women reduce the risk to almost zero.

Mechanical protective function

Amniotic fluid is a wonderful natural shock absorbers for crumbs. They protect the chips from mechanical influences. After all, no matter how hard caution expectant mother, in life anything may happen - the bus can be driven on, and sometimes you can slip and fall. Amniotic the water largely mitigate mechanical action on litter and to protect it.

The protective function of the umbilical cord

Another very important function of the amniotic fluid is to protect the umbilical cord. Due to the presence of amniotic fluid is almost completely ruled out a situation in which the umbilical cord is compressed between the walls of the uterus and the baby's body. This grip is extremely dangerous, as it can disrupt the proper development of the fetus due to lack of nutrients, hypoxia due to lack of oxygen and even fetal death.

Hermetic isolation of infectious agents

In addition to antibodies, fetal bladder protects the crumbs from the penetration of infectious agents. All required and oxygen delivered crumbs easily through the placenta, but the infectious agents to the way ordered.

Hurdle merging body parts crumbs

Due to the fact that the sac is amniotic fluid avoids the situation in which the membranes themselves directly to the body of the baby grows.

Ensuring the harmonious development

The presence of amniotic fluid in sufficient quantity ensures the proper development of the internal organs and whole systems baby. For example, using amniotic fluid occurs the correct formation and subsequent development of the entire respiratory system. Immediately after there is a formation of the chest and the baby appears the possibility of its movement, amniotic fluid allows the fetus to simulate the breathing movements, thus helping the development and training of the lungs. If the child does not like to make daily exercise, he can not breathe on their own, were born.

Much the same applies to the digestive and excretory systems. Swallowing amniotic fluid, pipsqueak trains your stomach and intestines to digest food, and the excretory system - to get rid of waste products. This is extremely important for the success of intrauterine development and crumbs of life after birth. The child begins to swallow amniotic fluid from around the 14th week of pregnancy. And around the same age crumbs kidneys begin to produce urine, which is still sterile.

Supports metabolism

Amniotic fluid most directly involved in metabolism. In the amniotic fluid also contains a huge amount of oxygen and nutrients so necessary for normal development of the crumbs. It amniotic fluid fully supplying baby proteins, fats and carbohydrates, enzymes, hormones, glucose and other substances.

Providing conditions for the physical development of the child

Amniotic fluid is a kind of pool for remains. The child has the opportunity without any difficulty to move inside the uterus as he wanted it. The exceptions are the big stages of pregnancy, when the baby gets too big and does not have enough space in the uterus. However, in this case, amniotic water give crumbs ability to change the position of the body without much effort.

Ensuring the proper formation of the circulatory system of the fetus

Another very important feature of the amniotic fluid is the correct formation of the circulatory system of the fetus and its subsequent operation, including an indicator. As a normal blood clotting. This is due to the substances that are contained in the amniotic fluid - in particular fibrinolysin and thromboplastin.

Prevention of bleeding during pregnancy and childbirth

Due to its enzymes, amniotic fluid has the property to turn off the blood, thereby effectively preventing the bleeding, both during pregnancy and during labor. This feature of the amniotic fluid has saved many thousands of lives, as the kids and their moms.

Facilitating labor process

Besides all of the above, the amniotic fluid are of great importance during childbirth. Thanks to them the fruit occupies the correct position in the lower part of the uterus. And she cervix under the pressure of membranes filled with amniotic fluid, it opens much faster and less painful than in cases where the water has moved on.

What can tell amniotic fluid?

As it is clear from what has been said - the amniotic fluid is a biologically active habitat crumbs, so it is very sensitive to the slightest changes in the physical condition of the child. Doctors use this feature of the amniotic fluid for diagnostic purposes. Assessing the status and composition of the amniotic fluid, doctors can monitor the status of both mother and baby, time detecting deviations from the norm.

Even the amount of amniotic fluid, which can easily be determined with the help of ultrasound, can say a lot. There are some deviations from the norm as oligohydramnios and polyhydramnios. These deviations must be detected as quickly as possible and assign corrective therapy, because the amount of amniotic fluid is also very important.

Another method is the study of amniotic fluid amnioscopy. Under amnioscopy means a visual inspection and investigation of the bottom of the membranes. If the data are not enough doctors, they may resort to one method Now More diagnostics - to amniocentesis.

Amniotsentoz - a diagnostic puncture of membranes for the purpose of sampling the amniotic fluid to assess its color and composition. For this special woman doing puncture needle (puncture) or in the lower abdominal wall or the posterior fornix of the vagina. This procedure is performed under local anesthesia and does not make crumbs and his mother no harm.

Another important study of amniotic fluid, which can save the child's life, this study determines the presence and levels of phospholipids in the amniotic fluid. In order to light during inspiration is completely open, you need the right level of optimum ratio of sphingomyelin and lecithin in the blood remains. Only under this condition the child can breathe on their own.

In addition to the maturity of the respiratory system it is equally important for the survival of the newborn baby's degree of maturity of the urinary system, in particular - the kidneys. Based on the analysis of amniotic fluid can also be set maturity kidney baby - is it reliably indicates the level of concentration in the amniotic fluid of the hormone as creatinine. Its low content indicates that the kidneys are not yet sufficiently mature child and not be able to deal fully with their assigned functions.

This information, which can provide the amniotic fluid, it is very important in the case in the normal course of pregnancy there was a deviation and the condition of the pregnant woman is heavy and may even threaten not only her health but also life - for example, a severe form of preeclampsia, in which the delivery is as soon as possible. Physicians estimate of amniotic fluid fetal maturity and his readiness to existence outside the uterus - which is why the analysis of amniotic fluid sometimes saves lives.

Doctors - gynecologists, in case if the fetus is still not mature, and the woman's condition is such that the continuation of pregnancy is impossible, is administered to a pregnant woman drugs that promote the maturation of both light and kidneys of the fetus. Incidentally, the dose of these drugs and duration of treatment, doctors also expect is based on laboratory studies of amniotic fluid.

Too many women often refuse to research proposals, believing that the doctors simply reinsured, or else fear for the health of your baby, because they believe that these studies may harm crumbs. Often these fears are artificially fueled by a variety of stories about alleged terrible danger of these procedures, in most cases, resulting in the loss of a child. These stories are passed from mouth to mouth among expectant mothers. And they completely distort reality.

In fact, to abandon them in any case impossible, as they are carried out strictly according to the specific indications in cases when a doctor believes there is a real threat to the health and life of mother or her baby. Believe me - no doctor prescribe such studies for no good reason.

Leaking of amniotic fluid

Nature is very wise - she has provided to the membranes were sealed until the beginning of the generative process. Normally, during pregnancy the amniotic fluid does not leak under any circumstances. However, at times, under the influence of any external factors such as a fall or other gross physical effects can cause anguish membranes and as a result, dripping amniotic fluid of varying intensity, depending on the degree of damage to the membranes. Starts leakage of amniotic fluid, the symptoms of which notice pregnant women.

However, very often expectant mothers begin terrible panic to find the laundry wet spots.